The Different Recycling Rates Across the Country
Recycling plays an important role in the sustainability of not only our environment but of the world overall. Recycling delays or even eliminates the production of new products. This allows us to conserve energy and reduce air and water pollution. Collectively, a simple act of sorting our waste properly can reduce greenhouse gases and conserve natural resources. While the University strives to promote recycling, this eco-friendly practice is not equally as common across the United States and the globe.
New York state ranks 11th among U.S. states for percent recycled. Cardboard and boxboard are the most commonly recycled materials with 64% of them properly sorted. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a clear, strong, and lightweight plastic that is used to make most single-use plastic bottles. About 54% of them are recycled in New York. Below is a list of the top 15 states and their overall recycling rates.
- Maine – 74%
- Oregon – 66%
- Connecticut – 63%
- Vermont – 62%
- Iowa – 62%
- New Jersey – 62%
- Minnesota – 60%
- Pennsylvania – 60%
- Delaware – 59%
- Washington – 58%
- New York – 58%
- Rhode Island – 56%
- California – 54%
- Massachusetts – 52%
- Missouri – 48%
Many factors may affect the percentages such as different regulations and guidelines for sorting waste and access to different sorting bins. I think it is great that 14 states have a rate higher than 50%. I believe there is always room for improvement, especially when our actions have a beneficial effect.
Written by Emily Su, Class of 2022
Photo credits: https://www.shutterstock.com/search/us+map+green